Salvia plant named ‘Balsalpazy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Salvia  plant named ‘Balsalpazy’, characterized by its dark purplish-red colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Salvia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsalpazy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salviaplant botanically known as Salvia hybrid and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balsalpazy’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, theNetherlands during September 2016. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Salvia cultivars having large flowers withattraction coloration, dark green-colored foliage, and a vigorous,highly branched, upright growth habit.

The new Salvia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Salvia splendensbreeding selection coded G20-2, not patented, characterized by its redand white bicolored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growthvigor and compact, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of thenew cultivar is the proprietary Salvia splendens x guaranitica breedingselection coded B093-1, not patented, characterized by its mediumpurple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous,upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during August 2017 in a controlled environment in Hem,the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2017 in Hem, the Netherlands and Arroyo Grande, Calif. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsalpazy’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Dark purplish-red colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a more vigorous growth habit and dark purplish-redcolored flowers that is different from the red and white bicolor flowersof the female. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the maleparent primarily in being earlier to flower, in having dark purplish-redcolored flowers that is different from the medium purple-colored flowersof the male parent and in having more branches per plant.

Of the many commercially available Salvia cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is the male parent ‘Purple & Bloom’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 32,027. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Purple & Bloom’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have flowers with less blue        coloration than plants of ‘Purple & Bloom’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more reddish-purple colored        bracts than plants of ‘Purple & Bloom’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balsalpazy’. The plants were approximately 10-weeks old. The plantswere grown in 4.5-inch containers for approximately 7 weeks in agreenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch attransplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsalpazy’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Balsalpazy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in January 2023 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately10-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina polycarbonate greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in4.5-inch containers for approximately 7 weeks utilizing a soillessgrowth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 70° F. (20° C.to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (16° C. to18° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrid ‘Balsalpazy’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Salvia splendens breeding            selection coded G20-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Salvia splendens x guaranitica            breeding selection coded B093-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Medium thickness, fibrous, brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright            growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 49.0 cm. Width: Approximately 47.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral            branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 2            main basal branches and approximately 8 lateral branches.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 21.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 5.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with minute            hairs. Color of young and mature stems: 146A with an overlay            of N186C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute to perpendicular angle to stem. Shape:            Ovate to deltoid. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate to slightly oblique. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Length of mature leaf: Approximately 10.5 cm. Width of            mature leaf: Approximately 8.3 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Rugose, sparsely pubescent. Color of upper            surface of young foliage: 137A with 139A and venation of            147B. Color of lower surface of young foliage: Closest to            NN137D with venation of 146C. Color of upper surface of            mature foliage: NN137A with 139A and venation of 147B. Color            of lower surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137D with            venation of 146C, midvein has a faint overlay of N186C at            petiole attachment.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color:            146B with a faint overlay of N186C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsalpazy’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 4 to 5 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Spikes in verticillaster            arrangement, florets in clusters of three, not persistent.            Quantity of inflorescences per plant: Approximately 2.            Fragrance: Faint, sweet. Length or height of inflorescence:            Approximately 17.5 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately            11.5 cm. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 8.        -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless. Color: 146A with a heavy overlay of            N186B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Single, zygomorphic.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Calyx of N186C and petals            of N186B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate, lower lip having three lobes,            base fused. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Length:            Approximately 2.2 cm. Depth: Approximately 5.5 cm.        -   Upper lip.—Shape: Hooded. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded.            Length from throat: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Pubescence            color: 86A. Color of inner surface when first and fully            open: 85D. Color of outer surface when first and fully open:            Closest to N79B to N79C.        -   Lower lip.—Shape of lobes: Oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex of            lobes: Rounded. Length from throat of central lobe:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of central lobe: Approximately            9.0 mm. Length from throat of lateral lobes: Approximately            1.0 cm. Width of lateral lobes: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface when            first and fully open: Closest to N79C with two central            irregular patches of 85D near throat opening. Color of lower            surface when first and fully open: Closest to N79B to N79C.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.3 cm. Diameter at            opening: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of            inner surface when first and fully open: 85D with base of            NN155D. Color of outer surface when first and fully open:            Closest to N79B to N79C with base of NN155D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 2.1 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Fused into two lobes. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Upper lobe acuminate, lower lobe notched.            Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width of lobes: Approximately            1.0 cm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces: Densely            pubescent with minute hairs. Color of inner surface: 146D            with tips of N186C. Color of outer surface: 146A with a            heavy overlay of N186A and N186C.        -   Bracts.—Quantity: One bract located at the base of floret            cluster. Shape: Ovate, cupped. Apex: Acuminate. Length:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture            of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface:            Densely pubescent with minute hairs. Color of inner surface:            NN155D with an underlay of 86A at tip. Color of outer            surface: 86B with N78B.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute            angle. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Pubescence color: 86A.            Color: 146B with a heavy overlay of N186C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per            flower, dorsifixed, strongly curved. Stamen length:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Filament length: Approximately 2.1.            Filament color: NN155D with and overlay of N78B that is            heaviest on lower half. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Anther color: N92A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity:            1 per flower, slightly curved. Pistil length: Approximately            5.5 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, two-parted. Stigma length:            4.0 mm. Stigma color: 86A. Style length: Approximately            4.8 cm. Style color: NN155D with an overlay of 86B near            stigma. Style texture: One longitudinal line of hairs            colored 86B. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary            color: 18D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Salvia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘Balsalpazy’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.